LeBron James Lands Sponsorship Deal Worth Nearly 4× His New NBA Salary

NBA superstar LeBron James is reportedly set to earn significantly more from his endorsement deal with prediction-market platform Polymarket than from his new NBA contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.

According to reports, the 41-year-old basketball star will receive about $15 million annually from Polymarket, while his new two-year contract with the Sixers is worth $8 million in total.

The reported agreement represents a significant change from James’ recent NBA earnings. He has not earned less than $10 million in a single NBA season since 2006, when he was still playing under his rookie contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James reportedly earned $53 million during the 2025-26 NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers. His career earnings from NBA contracts have surpassed $581 million, according to Spotrac.

The four-time NBA champion recently appeared in a Polymarket advertisement alongside several prominent sports and entertainment personalities, including Spike Lee, Reggie Bush, Richard Sherman, Derek Jeter, Sue Bird and Eli Manning.

However, the partnership has generated criticism from some fans, particularly because of James’ previous comments about sports betting and its influence on basketball.

In 2023, James expressed concern about fans becoming increasingly focused on betting rather than the game itself. He noted that sports gambling had existed for decades but acknowledged that its legalisation had expanded its reach.

Polymarket has consistently described itself as a prediction market rather than a traditional betting platform.

The reported endorsement deal has therefore renewed discussion about the growing relationship between professional athletes, sports audiences and prediction-market platforms.